Chicken meat and offal market in Malaysia

Earlier Report Observations

Between 2018 and 2020, Malaysia's chicken meat production saw a modest increase from 1.59 million tonnes to 1.63 million tonnes, with market volume reaching 1.68 million tonnes. The industry operated under persistent challenges, including a high reliance on imported feed grains like corn and soybeans, weather disruptions affecting supply chains, and management inefficiencies that constrained more robust growth.

From 2021, domestic production entered a decline, falling to 1.54 million tonnes in 2022 before a slight rebound to 1.57 million tonnes in 2023. This drop was driven by multiple supply-side pressures: prolonged rainy weather, infectious disease outbreaks, COVID-19-related foreign labor shortages, and soaring feed costs. In response, the government authorized imports of up to 10,000 tonnes of frozen chicken monthly from December 2021, triggering a sharp rise in imports from 96,000 tonnes in 2021 to 238,000 tonnes in 2023. This influx, alongside production subsidies and a floor price scheme, pushed total market volume to 1.79 million tonnes by 2023. Concurrently, PT Resources Holdings expanded its cold storage capacity from 700 to 4,000 tonnes, facilitating the handling of frozen meat imports.

In the latter part of the period, regulatory focus shifted toward food safety and market structure. Stricter labeling, storage rules, and Codex Alimentarius standards were enforced for frozen chicken in 2024. Meanwhile, the Rural Agricultural Entrepreneurial Revolution (RAER) program launched in 2025 aimed to strengthen local production through public-private collaboration. Imports remained high, exceeding 217,000 tonnes annually in 2024–2025, as the government continued to permit frozen chicken imports to ensure adequate supply.

Production chicken meat and offal in Malaysia

In kind, 2018-2021, K t

From 2018 to 2021, Malaysia ranked 19th globally in chicken meat and offal production.

Top producers of chicken meat and offal, 2018-2021

World map of production of chicken meat and offal, 2018-2021

Malaysia's chicken meat and offal production declined after two years of growth. In 2021, output reached 1 583 K t, down 2.8% from the previous year. The peak was in 2020 at 1 629 K t, which also saw the largest annual increase of 2.5%.

Annual dynamics of production in Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021, K t

In value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Malaysia's chicken meat and offal production value fell for the third straight year. In 2021, it stood at 1 554 M $ US, a sharp 13.5% drop from 2020. Over the 2018-2021 period, production value decreased by 22.3%, with an annualized decline of 8.1%.

Annual dynamics of production in Malaysia in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

Exports chicken meat and offal from Malaysia

Exports in kind, t

In 2021, Malaysia exported 12 515 t of chicken meat and offal, down 13.8% from the prior year. Exports hit a low in 2019 at 10 499 t and peaked in 2020 at 14 511 t, with the largest annual increase of 38.2% that year. Overall, from 2018 to 2021, exports grew 18.7%, averaging 5.9% per year.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam were the top destinations for Malaysia's chicken meat and offal exports by volume. Thailand accounted for 62.3% of exports, Singapore for 12.4%, and Brunei Darussalam for 7.7%, together making up 82.3% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021

Exports in value, M $ US

In 2021, Malaysia's chicken meat and offal export value totaled 12.3 M $ US, a 23.2% decrease from the previous year. The lowest value was in 2019 at 12.2 M $ US, while the highest was in 2020 at 16.0 M $ US, with the largest annual increase of 31.1% that year. Over 2018-2021, export value fell 7.5%, averaging a 2.6% annual decline.

Annual dynamics of product's exports from Malaysia in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Thailand, Singapore, and Brunei Darussalam were the main destinations for Malaysia's chicken meat and offal exports by value. Thailand contributed 44.4% of export value, Singapore 21.0%, and Brunei Darussalam 15.8%, collectively accounting for 81.2% of total flows.

Structure of product's exports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's exports from Malaysia in value, 2018-2021

Imports chicken meat and offal to Malaysia

Imports in kind, t

In 2021, Malaysia imported 96 280 t of chicken meat and offal, up 38.0% from 2020. Imports reached their lowest point in 2020 at 69 772 t, with the largest annual decline of 3.6% that year. Overall, from 2018 to 2021, imports increased 34.9%, averaging 10.5% growth per year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021, t

From 2018 to 2021, Thailand and China were the leading sources for Malaysia's chicken meat and offal imports by volume, together accounting for 84.4% of total imports. The remainder was spread across various other countries.

Structure of product's imports in kind by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Malaysia in kind, 2018-2021

Imports in value, M $ US

In 2021, Malaysia's chicken meat and offal import value was 185.1 M $ US, a steep 31.5% rise from 2020. The lowest value was in 2020 at 140.8 M $ US, with the largest annual decline of 11.3% that year. Over 2018-2021, import value grew 18.7%, averaging 5.9% per year.

Annual dynamics of product's imports to Malaysia in value, 2018-2021, M $ US

From 2018 to 2021, Thailand and China dominated Malaysia's chicken meat and offal imports by value, together making up 87.7% of total flows. Other destinations had smaller individual shares.

Structure of product's imports in value by countries, 2018-2021

World map of product's imports to Malaysia in value, 2018-2021